Essential Summer Car Care Tips: Keep Your Vehicle Cool and Reliable

Most common car problems during the summer

Extreme heat can take a toll on your car, damaging its rubber and plastic parts. Taking your car out for a long drive during the summer is quite tempting. However, there are several things you must keep in mind to ensure the well-being of your car.

• Engine overheating
• Broken air conditioning
• Worn wiper blades
• Low tyre pressure
• Broken drive belt
• Tyre bursts
• Fuels leaks
• Weak battery

What must you consider while caring for your car?

Test the AC

During summer is when you use the air conditioner to the maximum. You might not have used the AC during the monsoon or winter season – therefore, it is important to check the car AC's condition before the summer's heat takes over. A simple fix may be a refrigerant charge. Adding refrigerant to your car can give the AC system a boost. 

Check the air pressure of the tyres.

Not only during the summer, you must check the air pressure of the tyres occasionally. You might want to look for signs that your tyres are under or overinflated. Optimal tyre pressure can avoid a flat tyre or a tyre blowout. Ensuring your tyres are properly inflated can also help maximise mileage. 

Check engine fluids

Seasonal weather changes can impact the engine fluids of your car. They tend to thin or even evaporate in warm temperatures. When the summer is near, you should top off the transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant and windshield wiper fluid. 

Oil and filter change

Getting the oil and filter changed is one of the simplest ways to increase the performance of your car. Oil lubricants keep your engine safe from wear and tear, and the oil filter aids in removing contaminants from the car's engine oil. If you don't change the oil routinely, it can develop costly oil problems like particle buildup that could wear down vital parts of the car.

Check the brakes

You rely on the brakes when you go for long drives. Therefore, it is important to check the brakes regularly. Other than poor stopping performance, you will want to listen for squealing or growling sounds when testing your brakes. You must also check for brake pulling or if your car pulls to one side when you press the brake pedal.

Replace windshield wipers

Visibility is an important requirement while you are behind the wheel. During the summer, dust and pollen particles or even the sun's glare can impact your vision through the windshield. Make sure you check your windshield wipers' effectiveness to eliminate anything that could minimise visibility. Also, if the headlights seem dim or weak, immediately change them to make sure you can see clearly during the night. 

Keep the engine cool

All cars have a cooling system that removes heat from the engine to maintain proper temperatures. The cooling system is made of coolant, hoses, a thermostat, a radiator and a water pump. The temperature gauge designed to measure the coolant levels in your car will indicate if your engine's coolant is cold, normal or overheating.

Park your car in the shade

During summer, try and park your car in the shade whenever possible. Parking your car in a shaded spot keeps you cool and can prolong its life. The sun's rays could damage your car's exterior and paint, which could be expensive to fix. Extreme heat could also heat up the inside of your car, like the steering wheel and leather seats, making it difficult to drive.

Conclusion:

In this article, we have seen the importance of maintaining your car. Whether it be a used car or a new car, maintaining your car will result in the excellent performance of your vehicle. Especially during the summer, when the scorching heat can do much damage to the insides and outside of your car, it is essential for you to know different tips and tricks to care for it yourself.

The above-given information is a product of our research and analysis. If you have any other points that can be added to the list of information available above, please do mention in the comments section. Be smart, make smart choices.